MARSHALL - A lawsuit has been filed against the employer of a truck driver who allegedly drove away from a loading ramp too soon and caused the ramp and the forklift to fall.

Martha Cole filed suit against John Doe and Con-Way Truckload Inc. on Dec. 9 in Harrison County District Court. The defendant removed the case to the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division on Jan. 10.

The incident occurred on Dec. 30, 2009, as Cole was operating a fork-lift at Tractor Supply in Marshall. She was unloading a trailer, owned and operated by the defendant, when the driver pulled away from the loading dock, causing the ramp to fall to the ground with Cole on the forklift, the suit claims.

The defendant is accused of failing to keep a proper lookout for Cole's safety and for negligently entrustment of the truck to the driver.